View source for Civil Aid Service

{{short description|Civil organization with emergency roles in Hong Kong}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=May 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}

{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name   = Civil Aid Services
|nativename    = 民眾安全服務隊
|nativename_a  = 
|nativename_r  = 
|logo          = Badge_of_the_Civil_Aid_Service.gif
|logo_width    =
|logo_caption  = 
|seal          = 
|seal_width    = 
|seal_caption  = 
|formed        = {{Start date and age|1952}}
|jurisdiction  = [[Hong Kong]]
|headquarters  = 8 To Wah Road, [[Yau Ma Tei]], [[Kowloon]]
|employees     = 112 full time; 3,634 adult members and 3,232 cadet members
|budget        = 
|minister1_name  = [[Chris Tang]]
|minister1_pfo   = [[Secretary for Security]]
|chief1_name     = Mr.LO Yan-Lai
|chief1_position = Commissioner
|chief2_name     = Mr.Fong Yiu Tong,Francis
|chief2_position = Chief Staff Officer (Acting) and Deputy Commissioner (Operation) (Acting)
|website       = [https://www.cas.gov.hk/eng/welcome.html CAS]
|footnotes     = 
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
|order=ts
|showflag=
|t=民眾安全服務隊
|s=民众安全服务队
|j=Man4 zung3 on1 cyun4 fuk6 mou6 deoi2 
|y=Màhn jung ōn chyùhn fuhk mouh deuih
|p=Mínzhòng Ānquán Fúwù Duì
|altname=CAS
|t2=民安隊
|s2=民安队
|j2=Man4 on1 deoi2 
|y2=Màhn ōn deuih
|p2=Mín Ān Duì
}}
{{Politics of Hong Kong}}

[[File:CAS Headquarters.jpg|thumb|250px|CAS Headquarters]]

The '''Civil Aid Service''' ('''CAS''') is a civil organisation that assists in a variety of auxiliary emergency roles, including search and rescue operations in [[Hong Kong]]. CAS is funded by the [[Government of Hong Kong|Hong Kong Government]] and its members wear uniforms.

==History==
[[Image:Badge of the Civil Aid Service 1952-1997.gif|thumb|right|300px|Badge of the Civil Aid Service, 1952–1997.]]
[[Image:Flag of the Civil Aid Service 1952-1997.gif|thumb|right|300px|Flag of the Civil Aid Service, 1952–1997.]]
Formed in 1952 under the British colonial government of [[Hong Kong]] (CAS Ordinance) and modelled after Civil Aid agencies in the [[United Kingdom]].

As well, a youth section, CAS Cadet Corps, adds 3,232 volunteers to the regular 3,634 force.

The concept was introduced during British rule, an organisation also found in Britain.

A dedicated Civil Aid Service rescue training centre, with indoor and outdoor training areas, was opened by the governor on 15 November 1953 at Hawthorn Road, Happy Valley.<ref name="rescuetraining">{{cite news |title=Rescue training centre opened by The Hon. R.B. Black |work=South China Morning Post |date=16 November 1953 |page=3}}</ref>

The CAS used to be headquartered at Caroline Hill Road in [[Causeway Bay]]. It moved to [[Yau Ma Tei]] in 2006. The six-storey former CAS Headquarters is slated for demolition by the government.<ref name="legcodemolition">{{cite web |title=794CL – The demolition of existing superstructures at Caroline Hill Road site, Causeway Bay |url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr17-18/english/fc/pwsc/papers/p17-30e.pdf |publisher=Legislative Council |date=17 January 2018}}</ref>

==Duties==
The stated duties of the Service are:
* to provide support to the government regular emergency forces on counter disaster activities, mountain search and rescue, flood rescue, countryside fire protection duties;
* to provide crowd control and management services in major public functions;
* to patrol country parks and hiking trails and to assist people in need of help;
* to stage performances to enhance public attention on major campaigns or activities organised by government departments and non-government organisations;
* to provide training activities and professional services on mountain safety/rescue for government departments and non-government organisations.

==Organisation==
CAS are headed by the Commissioner and CAS (Department) by Chief Staff Officer (also Deputy Commissioner).

===Past commissioners===
* Dr. Ernest Lee SW, SBS, PhD, JP
* Dr. Norman Leung
* The Hon Charles Edward Michael Terry (founding commissioner)

===Rank===
* Commissioner (Grade Senior VII Officer)
* Deputy Commissioner - Operations, Administration (Grade VII Officer)
* Senior Assistant Commissioner - Operations, Administration, Development & Youth (Grade VII Officer)
* Regional (Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories) / Cadet Corps / Support Force Commander / Administration Force / Tactical Force (Grade VII Officer)
* Deputy Regional / Cadet Corps / Support Force Commander (Grade SVI Officer)
* Assistant Regional Commander / Principal Staff Officer (Grade VI Officer)
* Company Commander / Senior Staff Officer (Grade SV Officer)
* Deputy Company Commander / Staff Officer (Grade V Officer)
* Platoon Commander / Assistant Staff Officer (Grade IV Officer)

Rank Below IV are called "Other Rank Members"
* Chief Section Leader (Grade Senior III)
* Senior Section Leader (Grade Senior III)
* Section Leader (Grade III)
* Deputy Section Leader (Grade II)
* Senior Member (Grade Senior I)
* Member (Grade I)
* Cadet / Senior Cadet / Deputy Cadet Leader / Cadet Leader / Senior Cadet Leader

==Facilities==
* Headquarters – [[Yau Ma Tei]]
* Hong Kong Training Centre – [[Causeway Bay]]
* Tai Tan Camp – [[Sai Kung Town|Sai Kung]]
* Yuen Tun Camp – [[Sham Tseng]]

==Fleet==
CAS Vehicles is managed by Transport Company. There are various types of vehicles in service for different uses including:

* Motorcycle
* Mobile Command Unit - [[Toyota Coaster]] 16 Seats
* Mountain Rescue Vehicle
* Emergency Lighting Vehicle
* Mobile Canteen
* Rescue Tender
* Coaches - [[Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa|Mitsubishi Rosa]]
* Van, etc.

==Mountain Search and Rescue Company==
{{Infobox Chinese
|title=Mountain Search and Rescue Company
|order=ts
|showflag=
|t=民安隊山嶺搜救中隊
|s=民安队山岭搜救中队
|j=Man<sup>4</sup> on<sup>1</sup> deoi<sup>2</sup> saan<sup>1</sup> leng<sup>5</sup> sau<sup>2</sup> gau<sup>3</sup> zung<sup>1</sup> deoi<sup>2</sup>
|y=Màhn ōn deuih sāan léhng sáu gau jūng deuih
|p=Mín Ān Duì Shānlǐng Sōujiù Zhōng Duì
}}
The Mountain Search and Rescue Company (民安隊山嶺搜救中隊) or CAS MSaR consists of two search and rescue teams specializing in [[List of mountains, peaks and hills in Hong Kong|mountain terrain]] within Hong Kong (mainly in the New Territories). MSaR team is made up of auxiliary members of CAS. Formed in 1967, it has a combined total of 246 members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cas.gov.hk/eng/info/info_msar.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009024052/http://www.cas.gov.hk/eng/info/info_msar.html |archive-date=9 October 2007 |title=Civil Aid Service Hong Kong}}</ref> MSaR works with [[Hong Kong Fire Services]] and [[Government Flying Service (Hong Kong)|Government Flying Service]] (air support) when deployed to incidents.

==Crest==
The current crest of the force was adopted in 1997 to replace most of the [[United Kingdom|British]] colonial symbols:

* [[St Edward's Crown]] replace with the [[Bauhinia]], Hong Kong's regional emblem
* Crest's unilingual wording ''CAS Hong Kong'' replaced with the bilingual "香港 - 民安隊 Civil Aid Service - Hong Kong"

Source: [http://flagspot.net/flags/hk_cas.html]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Civil Aid Service}}
* [http://www.cas.gov.hk/eng/welcome.html CAS]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060203091653/http://hkdsc.com/ Hong Kong Disciplined Services]
{{Government of Hong Kong}}
{{Law enforcement in Hong Kong}}
{{Security Bureau (Hong Kong)}}

[[Category:Public health and safety in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Emergency management in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Safety organizations]]
[[Category:Rescue agencies]]
[[Category:Hong Kong Government]]